The ribs or frames of metallic ships



(No Model.)

, W. M. BAILEY. Y APPARATUS FOR BENDING THE RIBS 0R FRAMES 'OF METALLIC SHIPS. No. 337,113. 1rf1tentec11V[.a,1ll 2, 1886.

h/i'bzesses merca,

lVALTER M. BAILEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' JLJECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,113. dated March 2, 1886. Application led September S, 1884. Serial Nol-12,157. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that vI, WALTER lll. Banter, of New York city, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Bending the Ribs or Frames of Metallic Ships, of which the following is a specification.

Usually the ribs of iron ships have been bent or formed up by a slow,laborious, and inexact method of hand-work, which usually consists in first forming a Wooden pattern for the shape of each rib, then placing-this pat tern on the perforated iron floor of the forging-shop, and marking the form thereof on the floor, and afterward setting up metal pins or projections in the perforated floor to correspond or approximate to the marked line, after which the hot iron isbent upto the pins, and finally iitted to the pattern entirely by manual operations withsledges, pries, and swages. This method is not-only crude and laborious but very slow, and is correspondingly expensive. Some attempts, however, have been heretofore made to produce machines for effecting these operations which are hereinafter referred to as distinct from my invention.

It is therefore the object of my invention to perform the bending operation by machinery in a more exact manner with less labor and with much greater rapidity, and also to enable the construction ot' the preliminary pattern for each frame to be entirely dispensed with.

To these ends I construct an apparatus consisting of an extended level metal platformhaving a perpendicular mark or groove thereon to represent the perpendicular or midship line in the cross-section of the vessel, and across the platform are scribed horizontal grooves transverse to the midship line to represent the different water-lines7 in the cross-section of the vessel; hence by reference to the drawings of the proposed vessel proper measurements can be determined for each particular frame or rib, and these measurements laid off on the water-lines ofthe platform, the distance from the midship line on each successive water-line being marked off,al'ter which a flexible rule or tape is set to the said marks, and the curve which the tape thus presents is then drawn or scribed on the platform, which will give the correct form for the desired rib or frame without requiring a pattern therefor. In addition to these lines the said platform is provided with aseries of slots running diagonally on the platform-that is, diagonal tothe midship line and to the transverse water-lines-and curved d'ivergently atthe outer ends, and in these slots are tted a corresponding series of movable presser-he`ads or formers impelled by hydraulic rams or equivalent motive devices, while at the outer ends of the slots are arranged xed but ad-y jusableheads, to form abutnients to the action of the movable heads. The fixed heads are set up to the line of the proposed frame as drawn on the platform as before described, and are there fastened, While the movable heads are withdrawn far back in their slots away from the txed heads to the opposite end of the slots, and the angleiron, being nowv heated red-hot and in the form of a long straight bar, is then dropped onto the platform in front of the movable heads, after which the hydraulic rams are setin motion, and the forming-heads are gradually moved up toward the fixed heads, thus bending the iron between them to the form of the desired frame as determined by the positionof the fixed heads.

The movable and fixed heads are each provided with a swiveled or adjustable face or jaw, which may be set to any 'desired inclination by a set-screw, and will thus give the desired bevel to the different parts of the frame in the act of bending the iron. In this way the straight angle-iron is bent rapidly to the form of the desired rib, both the curvature and bevel being imparted thereto, and the `slow and laborious hand-work heretofore necessary is obviated, thereby accomplishing great improvement.

My invention therefore consists in the fea- ICO the furnace for heating the iron and to the launchway in which the ship is to be built. The platform is of course preferably made in sections, ot' cast-iron, suitably secured together. and the top is planed level to present an extended level surface. as will be readily understood from the drawings.

On the top of the plat form is scribed agroove or other distinct line, b, which represents the perpendicular line or midship line in the cross section of the ship, and aseries of par allel lines or grooves, c c, cross and extend at right angles to the midline b, representing the water-lines of the ship. Now, extending' in a substantially diagonal direction across t-he platform are a series of slots, d, d, which are, however, somewhat curved .in "their di rec` tion, the central or longest slot being straight, while the slots on each side are curved outward and somewhat divergent in opposite directions on the respective opposite 'sides of the straight central slot, as fully shown in Fig. 1. The proper curves for the slots will 1 be determined by proper calculation anda proper averaging of the curvature of the diferent ribs in the vessel, so that the machine will be lenabled to bend the different ribs with a nearer approximation to the ab solutely correct curve and bevel. The slots might, however, all be made straight, were it not that a better approximation to correct curvature and bevel on all the frames are secured by giving the outer ends of the slots a divergent curved form, as described. The slots d have a dovetailed or T-shaped section on the under side of the platform, as shown in Fig. 3, and in these slots are fitted two sets of l forming-heads, A B. the set A being movable and active in their function, while the set B is fixed, but adjustable and passive in its function. The sectional construction of both heads is similar, as shown 'in Fig. 2. has aV base block, f, which tits the T-slot, as shown, and this is bolted to the top block, g, which carries at its front. a swiveled or pivoted face or jaw, 71, which forms the workingi'ace of the head, and which may be tilted or set to any desired inclination or bevel by the adjusting-screws t' t', as will be readily comprehengded from thedrawings; The top blocks of the heads are connected to the baseblock by a single powerful stud. k, as shown, sothat the top block can be freelyturned orswiveled on the base to presentitself at different inclinations on the top of the platform, as will be readily understood from Fig. l.

In the fixed heads the top and base blocks are so fitted to the slots that by tightening up the studs the two sections can be brought firmly together', so as to grip the platform firmly between them, and thus tix the heads firmly on the platform in any position desired, as indicated in Fig. 1. In the movableheads, however, the sections are so fitted that the base-block is always free to move back and forth in its slot, while the top block is free to swivel onits stud on the top of the platform,

Each

as will be readily comprehended from the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 2 in connection with Fig. l, it will be seen that under the platform is arranged a series of hydraulic ram cylinders, m, one being placed beneath each slot and in line therewith, or nearly so, and the piston of the ram is provided with a piston-rod. which protrudes from each end of the cylinder and connects to cross-heads provided with sheaves n n. Two cables, o o, each fixed at one end to the platform, as indicated at p p, pass in a loop around the sheaves n a, thence over a fixed sheave, r, ou the under side of the platform,

and connect at the opposite end to the basepressure, and the pipes are provided with suitable valves and-valve mechanism as common in hydraulic niachinery,which details for sake of simplicity I have notv here shown, as the same are well known, and may be varied in many ways. I prefer, however, to have the valves of each ram independently controlled, so that the movement of each head may be controlled independently on the top ofthe platform, and made to move at any relative speed desired. It will therefore be seen that when the water is admitted to one end of the ram the piston will be forced in one direction and the movable heads B moved back in the slots away from the fixed heads, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. `l; whereas, if the valves are shifted to admit the water in the reverse direction the movable heads will be moved in the opposite direction up toward the fixed heads, as shown by full linesin Fig. 1.

I prefer to have the valves of each cylinder controlled independently from the top of the platformsay by chains or cords extending thereto-so that men on the top of the platform by managing the valves can cause the separate heads to move at different speeds, as may be required, and to arrest them or reverse their motion at any point, as will be readily understood. lt will be obvious, however, that instead of hydraulic mechanism for moving the heads any other motive duid, engines, or mechanical movements-such as capstans, windlasses, &c., or any equivalent iinpelling devices-@may be employed to operate the movable heads, as the impelling device itself forms no part ot' my invention.

It will be seen that as most of the slots d in which the heads A move are slightly curved, and as the ramcylinders are arranged in a straight line in the direction of a chord to the curve, there will be aslight lateral deflection ot' the cables as the heads are moved through ktheir curved slots, and in order to support the IOO IIO

cables against this lateral deiiection and prevent their running ofi the sheaves r, small guide-sheaves s s are pivoted on the bottom of the platform on each side of the cable, as fully shown in Figs. l and 2.

The general construction of the apparatus having been thus set forth, its operation will now be made apparent.

The form of any particular frame or rib of the proposed vessel is first found by measurements made from the drawings or model of the vessel, these measurements being of course made by determining the distance from the periphery of the rib to the mid'ship line on each water line. These distances are then laid off on the corresponding water-lines, c c, on the platform a., and marked thereon in successive order. A steel tape or long flexible rule is then laid on the platform, and bent around until it -intersects the water-lines at the marked points, which will thus give the correct curve or shape for the desired rib, which curve is then marked distinctly on the platform by following the bent rule with a chalk-marker or other scriber, which line will then represent the correct shape of the desired rib. The adjustable heads B B are then set up and adjusted to this line and there fastened, as shown in Fig. 1, and their position will therefore serve as a pattern for the desired frame, thereby enabling the construction of the usual wooden pattern to be entirely dispensed with, which is a most important advantage. The bevel or twist of the rib at different points along the bottom or side is next determined, and the pivoted jaws h h on the several heads A B are then adjusted to this bevel. The heads being now all adjusted, as described, the movable heads are moved far out from the fixed heads, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, and the angle-iron tto form the rib is then taken from a long heating-furnace in proximity to the platform, and deposited on the platform in front of the heads, as indicated by dotted lines, the iron of course being in a straight bar of a length sufficient to form the" rib and uniformly heated to aproper forging-heat. Everything being now ready, as j ust described,and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, the movable heads are advanced against the hot iron bar, which will press the bar gradually up against the iixed heads, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, thus bending the iron in the shape of the desired rib with both the desired curvature and bevel, as will be readily comprehended, and thereby performing in a rapid mechanica-l manner what has heretofore required slow and laborious manual operations. f

During the bendingoperation, as described, the movements ofthe different heads A are of course properly controlled by the men on the platform, so that those which require to move a longer distance are moved at a faster speed, and the movement of each head properly arrested when it arrives near its corresponding fixed head, so as to put only the necessary pressure on the metal to form it properly, as will be readily comprehended.

At intervals where the spaces between the fixed heads B are wide, extra heads B may be introduced, as shown vin Fig. l, being temporarily bolted in holes or slots in the platform, so as to present a better abutment for the action of the movable heads, and to better ill out the line of the rib, as will be appreciated. It will also be understood that any slight imperfections in the form of the rib which may occur at points between the heads maybe easily corrected by hammering the iron in or out at these points, assisted by suitable swages.

In the drawings I have shown in fact but one-half of the machine for forming the ribs on one side or half of the vessel, and in practice the machine will be duplicated-on the other side of the line b to form the ribs forthe* other half ofthe vessel, as will be readily understood, which duplication itis notof course necessary to here illustrate.

Instead ofhaving each movable head B move independently in adistinct slot, one large movable head or carriage might be arranged to more in the middle slot,with all the heads B fixed to and adjusted on its periphery to correspond to the contour ofthe fixed heads rep-A resenting the contour of the rib; but the arrangement illustrated is thought to be preferable.

It may now be appreciated that this invention will accomplish a great improvement in the building of iron ships, as it not only enables the preliminary patterns to be dispensed with, but also enables each rib to be bent up to the correct shape at one operation of a machine, and thus not only renders the construction of the Vessel quite rapid,with a great savspecial construction differs from that shown'y and claimed by me.

I am also aware that a bending-machine has been proposed with an extended platform having a-series of straight diagonal or radiating slots; but this is distinct from my machine in which the slots are not only diagonal, but divergently curved at the outer ends, which is necessary to enable both the bow and stern frames ot' the ship to be properly bent to the correct curve.

My machine is further distinguished by the ruling of the perpendicular and the transverse water-lines on the face of the platform in connection with the heads and slots, as set forth.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a ship-building apparatus, the combination, with an extended platform marked with a perpendicular line, and with a series of parallel water-lines at right angles thereto, 0f

a series of adjustable abutting heads adapted to be adjusted on the platform to the contour of the rib of the vessel, as determined by measurements made on the aforesaid lines, and there fastened, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a ship-frame-bending apparatus, the combination of an extended platform, a series of diagonal slots in said platform divergently curved, with a series of abutting heads adapted to be adjusted and fixed in said slots, and a movable head or series of heads adapted to be moved in said slots to and from the fixed heads, and motor mechanism to propel said heads, substantially as set forth.

3. In a ship-framebending apparatus, the combination of a level extended platform, a series of parallel waterlines marked thereon, a series of slots extending diagonally to said lines, with a series of abutting heads adjusta ble and txable in said slots, a series of movable heads movable to and from the same, and motor mechanism to propel tbe latter, arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

4. The com bination,with the slotted platform a, of the fixed head B, formed-With the baseblockf, adjustable in the slot, and the top block, g, adapted to swivel thereon on the top of the platform, with a clamping device to hold the two sections firmly at any desired adjustment on the platform, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In combination with the platform a, the 'xed head or heads B, provided with the tilting jaw or face h and set-screw i, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the platform a, of the movable head A, having the tilting face or jaw h, and the set-screw z', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the platform a, fixed heads B, and movable heads A, of the rams m and flexible connectionso between the movable heads and the pistons ofthe rams, and pulleys over which said connections pass, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. The combination, with the platform a,hav ing slots d arranged diagonally and curved divergently at the outer ends, with fixed heads B, adapted to be fixed in the curved ends of said slots to correspond with the contour of the ship-frame on the outer or convex side thereof, and the movable heads A, free to move in the slots to and from the fixed heads on the inside of the same, with mechanism to propel said heads, substantially as herein set forth.

WALTER M. BAILEY.

Witnesses:

CHAs. M. HIGGINS, JNO. E. GAVIN. 

